The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy is gearing up to deploy its most advanced aircraft carrier yet with the upcoming commissioning of the Type 002, a highly anticipated warship expected to rival the U.S. Navy’s Gerald Ford Class supercarriers. This new addition to China’s growing naval fleet will be a significant leap forward from its predecessors, the Liaoning and the Type 001A, both of which are based on the Soviet Kuznetsov Class design.
Unlike the earlier models, which utilize ski-jump launch systems, the Type 002 will feature a flat-top design equipped with a catapult launch system, positioning it closer to Western carriers in terms of capabilities. One of the key technological advancements on the Type 002 will be the integration of the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), a cutting-edge feature also present on the U.S. Navy’s Gerald Ford Class. While the PLA had initially faced skepticism from Western analysts regarding its ability to develop such a sophisticated system, successful testing over the past few years has shown that China is poised to adopt EMALS as the core launch mechanism for the Type 002.
EMALS offers significant advantages over traditional steam-powered catapults. For one, it allows aircraft to launch with a heavier payload and more fuel, enhancing the operational capabilities of carrier-based fighters. The integration of EMALS on the Type 002 will provide the PLA Navy with a technological edge, enabling its air wing to deploy a wider array of munitions and extending the range and versatility of its fighter aircraft.
Satellite imagery analyzed by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in May 2019 confirmed that the Type 002 is being constructed at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai. This advanced facility, responsible for building many of China’s most formidable warships, is the ideal location for the assembly of this 85,000-ton carrier. The new carrier’s displacement is notably larger than its predecessors, with the Type 001’s 55,000 tons increasing to 70,000 tons when fully loaded, while the Type 002 will further push the limits with a significantly enhanced structure.
China’s Type 002 may have drawn inspiration from Soviet naval designs, particularly the unfinished Ulyanovsk Class, which also featured a catapult launch system and was set to weigh around 85,000 tons. However, the modern Type 002 will surpass these earlier designs with cutting-edge electronics, advanced sensors, and a fighter complement that could potentially include an additional stealthy strike fighter alongside the J-15 Flying Shark. The J-15 will see upgrades for deployment on the Type 002, making it a formidable air superiority fighter capable of carrying out both strike and air-to-air missions with enhanced range and payload.
In addition to the J-15, China is also expected to deploy the J-15D, a specialized electronic warfare variant, as well as the KJ-600 airborne early warning and control aircraft—similar to the U.S. Navy’s E-2 Hawkeye—further bolstering the Type 002’s role as a versatile and capable flagship. The vessel will be protected by China’s most advanced destroyers, the Type 052D and Type 055, ensuring comprehensive air defense and anti-ship capabilities for the carrier strike group.
The Type 002 is expected to be just the beginning of China’s push toward a formidable carrier fleet, with plans for the Type 003 Class, larger platforms that may feature nuclear propulsion and a displacement of over 100,000 tons. This ambitious expansion of the PLA Navy’s carrier fleet signals China’s growing aspirations to project power across the globe and match, if not surpass, the naval dominance of the United States. As China continues to modernize its fleet, the Type 002 will play a key role in this new era of naval warfare, offering capabilities that challenge traditional powerhouses like the U.S. Navy’s Gerald Ford Class.
